Collateral Damage Daily for June 20

The Red Sox are now up to 20 players being placed on the disabled list at one time or another this year. In my database, the 2008 Nationals and 2004 Rangers are tied for the most moves at 29. Since 2002, the Red Sox have been among the majors’ worst at keeping players off the DL. To add to their problems, Dustin Pedroia appeared to aggravate his thumb and had to leave last night’s game. There is no word on the severity.

Players on other teams are also injured. Bartolo Colon is almost certain to end up on the DL with a strained right oblique. Matt Joyce had to come out of yesterday’s game because of back tightness, but his recent illness may have been a contributing factor. Logan Forsythe is continuing to battle soreness from the abdominal injury that caused him to miss several games last week. Carlos Gonzalez is still dealing with soreness and fluid behind the knee, which at times can be indicative of a meniscal or cartilage injury inside the knee. The Rockies do not appear to be overly concerned, though. Vin Mazzaro has been pushed back a few days because of calf tightness but does not appear to be heading to the disabled list. Mitch Moreland left yesterday’s game with a strained hamstring and is currently day-to-day. The scariest injury of all was that to Jerome Williams, who had to be rushed to the hospital after complaining of shortness of breath. He was hospitalized for observation but is scheduled to return today for further testing. We’ll let you know more once we find out.

Additions

Jeremy Hellickson was placed on the disabled list yesterday with right shoulder fatigue after his last two outings were less than spectacular. X-rays were negative, which is certainly a good sign. It’s not clear if he has undergone an MRI yet. Hellickson admits that his shoulder felt weak but not necessarily painful, another good sign. The hope is that he will return when eligible on June 30, but these cases average 29 days lost. In the interim, Chris Archer was brought up to take Hellickson’s place.

Scott Podsednik was added to the 15-day DL yesterday with a broken bone in his foot. He has been having trouble staying healthy over the last several years, so it is fitting that he is now injured while on the Red Sox. The average time lost for outfielders is about 26 games, but many have been able to return in the minimum 15 days. Podsednik is not eligible to return until July 3. Cody Ross was activated yesterday in a corresponding move.

Subtractions

Skip Schumaker was activated from the disabled list yesterday after missing almost two-and-a-half weeks with a strained right hamstring. The average time for hamstring strains in the database is 31 days for outfielders and 29 days for second basemen. Schumaker has been productive when healthy this year, with a TAv of .300, but he was only able to play for six weeks before getting injured again. Maikel Cleto was optioned to Memphis to make room for Schumaker.

Cody Ross was also activated Tuesday after recovering from a broken foot. Many fractures are healed by the time the six-week mark rolls around, which would put the typical recovery between 35 and 42 days. Ross recovered from his fractured foot in 31 days. He will head back into the outfield until Ellsbury and Crawford come back from their respective injuries. Podsednik was placed on the DL in a corresponding move.

Octavio Dotel was activated from the DL yesterday, as expected, following only 16 DL days. I say “only” because most relief pitchers take about 43 days to return from elbow inflammation. He’s going to head back to the bullpen, where he was producing a 2.1 PVORP. Thad Weber was optioned to Toledo to make room for Dotel.